NU Offering Courses for Healthcare Professionals

Niagara University’s Office of Continuing Education is offering a trio of new courses tailored for current and future healthcare professionals. All classes begin in March.

Those who may be interested in enrolling are invited to an information night, which will be held Wednesday, Feb. 13, at 5:30 p.m. in Bisgrove Hall, Room 351. Registration is required for the event, but there is no charge to participate. Please call 716.286.8181 for more information.

Medical Billing and Coding Program

This 80-hour course offers the skills needed to solve insurance billing problems, how to manually file claims (using the CPT and ICD-9 manual), complete common insurance forms, trace delinquent claims (EOB’s) and use generic forms (CMS 1500) to streamline billing procedures. It covers CPT (introduction, guidelines, evaluation and management), specialty fields (such as surgery, radiology and laboratory), ICD-9 (introduction and guidelines) and basic claims process for medical insurance and third party reimbursement. Students will learn how to find the service codes using coding manuals (CPT & ICD-9).

After obtaining the suggested practical work experience, students who complete this course should be qualified to sit for the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) – Certified Professional Coder Exam (CPC or CPC-H – Apprentice); the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) Certified Coding Associate (CCA) exam; and/or other National Certification Exams.

Starting March 18, the class meets on Mondays and Wednesdays from 6-9:30 p.m. and on two Saturdays from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. The $1,799 fee includes textbooks.

Pharmacy Technician Certification Program

This comprehensive, 50-hour course prepares students to enter the pharmacy field and to take the pharmacy technician certification board’s PTCB exam.

The course, which runs March 19-May 9, meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6-9:30 p.m. The $999 fee includes textbooks.

Electronic Health Record Program

This 95-hour program prepares students to navigate the complexities of an electronic health record software system that includes code set methodologies as they relate to inpatient and outpatient services as well as the legal and ethical components of the electronic health record (EHR). After the successful completion of this program, students will be prepared to sit for the National Healthcareer Association (NHA) Certified Electronic Health Record Specialist (CEHRS) exam.

Classes begin March 19, taking place Tuesdays, Thursdays and on four Saturdays. The weekday classes run 6-9:30 p.m. while the Saturday sessions are 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. The $1,999 fee includes textbooks.

To register, please call Niagara University’s Office of Continuing Education at 716.286.8181. A full listing of Niagara University’s continuing education courses can also be found online at www.niagara.edu/ce.